Preparing Multiple Meals

One way to eat healthy and increase your free time at the same time is by preparing multiple meals at once. By taking a few hours once or twice a month to cook in bulk, you can achieve several goals. It's a way to cut food costs, check an item off your daily schedule, and practice smart eating as well.

You probably prepare at least one or two meals every day. When you think about how much time you spend shopping for food, choosing what to eat, and then cooking it all, it really adds up. Instead of performing these tasks daily, you can take one day to plan ahead for the whole week, or even two. When you make a menu and cook it all in big batches on one day, you have options ready in your refrigerator, cutting your work down to minutes each day. For those living an especially busy life, this is a great way to avoid fast food. When it's faster to pull something out of your refrigerator, there's no reason to hit the drive through. Also, for those watching what they eat, you can make sure you're stocked up on wise, portion controlled options. Lastly, when you buy in bulk, you often save quite a bit of money.

When you decide to prepare a couple days or weeks' worth of lunches or dinners at once, you need to plan ahead. Start by listing out your favorite meals and choosing a few that hold up well in the fridge. When you shop for your ingredients, also pick up some appropriately sized storage containers. Then, set aside a whole day for preparation. It will take a few hours, but you won't need to do anything but warm up your dishes during the week. It may take some trial and error to determine your preferences. Perhaps you'd like to portion out plain chicken breasts, fish, or other proteins and dress them according to your preference each day. You may like to make complete dinners, or pack side dishes like potatoes, rice, and veggies separately so you can mix and match. There are no rules, so you can make it work for you.

Doing some work ahead of time can really free up valuable moments in your busy week. With a fridge stocked with smart, healthy choices, you can avoid fast food even on the nights when you're tired and it's so tempting. Working in advance to make sure your choices are balanced with nutritious veggies and fruits filled with fiber helps ensure you always have a good option close at hand. Lastly, when you make fish or chicken in big batches, you save a lot of money buying in bulk. The free time gained is just a happy bonus in the end.